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Good evening, fellow resisters —
I hope you have your signs, flags, No Kings T-shirts, and sneakers ready, because tomorrow is the big day! All across the country, Americans will march peacefully to protest Donald Trump and his un-Constitutional, un-American, authoritarian administration.
When the Founders were thinking and debating about what kind of country we should be, they argued about the role of the president. Some didn’t think there was a place for one in a republic at all. Edmund Randolph even said a unitary executive would be “the fetus of monarchy.”
As these discussions went on, the public worried that the authors of the Constitution might create a monarchy. According to the University of Houston’s Digital History Project, a Philadelphia newspaper quoted a delegate, who said: “Though we cannot, affirmatively, tell you what we are doing, we can, negatively, tell you what we are not doing—we never once thought of a king.” Thank goodness.
But later, John Adams warned that, “Absolute power intoxicates alike despots, monarchs, aristocrats, and democrats.” He feared that even in our democratic republic, dissatisfaction with the state of government could give rise to a strongman.
We’ve been lucky for the past 237 years since our Constitution was ratified. We’ve had good presidents and bad, but never did any become what our Founders feared.
Until now.
That’s why tomorrow is so important. If you are able, please find a protest near you, and show up. This is America. We have no kings…not here…not now…not ever.
Be brave,
Joe
In Today’s Issue
The Social Briefing: Heroes of the Week
Good Reads for This Week
What’s Your Take?
What Can You Do?
The Social Calendar
The Social Soundboard
This Week
SUBSTACK LIVE:
Tuesday, 8pm ET (click if you missed it)
Wednesday, 8pm ET (with Mike Brock, click if you missed it)
SUPPORT OUR MISSION: If you enjoy this Substack and want to help me and my small, but fiercely pro-democracy team reach more Americans with our message, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription. Thank you!
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Amid all the bad, awful, dumb, stupid, sickening, despicable, embarrassing, irresponsible, demoralizing, infuriating, outrageous, terrible, horrible, Constitution-defying news of the past week, we have to acknowledge the heroes among us. The list is growing, as more and more of us are standing up to the tyrant. Courage is infectious. Be brave!
CALIFORNIA. From Sen. Alex Padilla to Gov. Gavin Newsom, and everyone in California who protested PEACEFULLY this week, thank you for showing others how to fight back the right way.
THIS GUY. And no, it’s not Wyatt Russell. Still pretty cool though. Watch.
DEMOCRATS. They still have a long way to go, but Democrats showed some fight this week. Check out Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Salud Carbajal for just two examples. We’re even reclaiming the American flag. Hell yeah! Go Blue! Go USA!
TERRY MORAN. For speaking the truth without fear. He had to know that in this climate, he would possibly lose his job of 28 years with ABC. And he did. But he spoke out anyway. Good on him.
THE JUDICIARY. Thank you to Judge Denise J. Casper, of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, for blocking Trump’s attempt to overhaul elections in the U.S. The ruling was the second one issued against Trump over this EO.
KENNEDY CENTER GUESTS. To all the folks attending the same Kennedy Center performance of Les Miserables as Trump—and booed him—bravo!
HONORABLE MENTION. No Republican who supports Donald Trump is a hero. Period. But Rep. Don Bacon says he won’t follow the GOP “off the cliff.” He’s worth watching.
Did we miss anyone? Send your heroes our way!
Good Reads for This Week
Trump’s Birthday Military Parade Destroys the Very Purpose of Our National Rituals —The UnPopulist
Gen Z Doesn't Seem to Care About Protesting Against Trump —Newsweek
The Senator, the Stagecraft, and the Snap of the Cuffs —Matt Lewis & the News(letter)
The Rubicon Has Been Crossed —Notes from the Circus
So You Want to Start a New Political Party that “Actually Represents the 80% in the Middle”? Good Luck —Undercurrent Events
Dear Senator Ernst —Closer to the Edge
Family Feuds and the Democratic Value of Political Division —The Great Transformation with Mike Madrid
Trump Pursues Autocratic Consolidation and a Domestic “Forever War” —Lucid
America’s Weak Strongman —Project Syndicate
Five Things to Know if Martial Law is Declared and How to Prepare —On Survival
LISTEN: Is the Mexican Flag Helping the Protests in Los Angeles? —The Great Transformation with Mike Madrid
What’s Your Take?
Tomorrow is No Kings Day, but it’s also the day of Trump’s military/birthday parade. What would you like to see happen?
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What Can You Do?
GET OUT THERE AND PROTEST! There is a BIG resistance protest opportunity coming up this weekend. Join if you are able!
TOMORROW, JUNE 14: Our “No Kings” protest day, with protests taking place in every state in the country. More info at nokings.org.
SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY PROUDLY! Let the world know you stand with the No Kings movement with a #NOKINGS shirt!
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To get yours, visit oneflaginitiative.org, or become a Social Contract Founding Member, and we’ll send you one for FREE (plus you’ll get an invite to a once-a-month Zoom with me and other special VIP events), with our thanks.
#NOKINGS merchandise sales directly support Conversations with Joe, my personal effort to restore the social contract across America.
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Did you catch Walsh Wednesday, my weekly meetup with Michael Cohen? If you missed it, here it is:
THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEWS & QUOTES
DEBATE: Should Democrats Embrace Conservatives to Stop Trump & Fascism? —Thom Hartmann Program
Political commentator, former Congressman, and host of The Social Contract—Joe Walsh —Rock 'n Roll Ghost Podcast
Trump Deployed Troops in L.A. to ‘break’ America and Become ‘Dictator’ —Times Radio
Here’s What DHS Secretary’s Call to 'Liberate' a U.S. City Really Means — According to Experts —Alternet.org
'Mark My Words': Ex-GOP Lawmaker Makes Huge Prediction About Trump's 'Game Plan' —Raw Story
Newly Minted Dem Calls Trump an ‘Ignorant Coward,’ but Fox News Host Goes Even Further —NJ.com
Trump's on a Pardon Spree, Prison Looms for Madigan, and Blago Wouldn't Wish Sentencing on his 'Worst Enemy' —Chicago Sun-Times
Social Media Reaction to ABC News Suspending Terry Moran —Mediaite
Charleston to See 'No Kings' Rally Against Trump Administration's Military Parade Plan — ABC News
Walsh Sets Political Sights on Graham —InsideRadio
Former Rep. Joe Walsh is Considering a Bid Against GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham —Politico
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Here’s what some of you are thinking about this week…
Joe,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for standing up for our country! I just watched some of your Live from today. I'm a proud retired Navy veteran who is just in awe of how so many people in this country cannot see who this man is! I grew up in a staunch Republican household in Ohio, and I know my father would not have fallen into this hole like so many have.
I have been an independent for most of my adult life, and I could still be there if this Republican Party ever gets its wits back. I can agree with policies on both sides of sanity, but not with these Republicans! I have never supported him from the start. Why don't the Republicans in Congress have the stones to do something for the right reasons, regardless of the future of their careers? I've started to reach out to my representatives and senators here in Virginia, but it doesn't seem like enough to get any results.
What else can we do? Trump doesn't care about our rallies and protests. He's gonna do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and we, as everyday Americans, mean nothing to him in any way. He wants power and to have his name plastered everywhere, no matter how stupid he (and our country) looks while doing it.
I want to do whatever I can to make sure this chaos is brought to a swift end (non-violently, of course), preferably before the 2026 mid-terms. I have faith that the Democrats will sweep in those elections, but I'm afraid of what he'll accomplish in the meantime.
Again, thank you for standing up and making your voice heard for our country, and thank you for your prior service in our government. I'll be checking out the oneflaginitiative.org that you spoke of. Have a great day! —Sharon LaFountaine
Thank you, Joe. As Democrats, I am very proud to stand with you, your friends, and your family. —Linda Hibbs
When oh when will it ever occur to Americans that no one is above the law? Claims of criminality are heard throughout our nation, all the while the only one who has not been held accountable is in the highest office in the land—with the help of those who swore to uphold the Constitution but have been derelict to their word with no consequences! Just unbelievable governance! —Patrick
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